Weekender cabin front panel HELP

[Johnny Socko]

My plywood keeps breaking when I try to put it in place. Any solutions? I am using 1/4 luan.

[Ray Frechette Jr]

Use better plywood.

I just finished building up coaming on a Welsford Navigator.  Client wants coaming 6 inches above deck at bow tapering down to 4 inches 2/3 back in cockpit.

Due to deck curvature and depth below deck I needed blanks 16 inches wide.

I used 3 mm Okoume  BS 1088 and was able to bend it in without breakage curved down to a 6 inch radius aft.  3 layer lamination...

Luan is not the best material to start with anyhow.  typically either three thick layers or three pretty thick with two paper thin veneers.  Most I have seen is pre warped fresh from the factory.

I reckon 6 mm okoume could be bent in on a Weekender without soaking or steaming.

[Al Stead]

Make sure that the grain is running across the piece.  I had the same trouble this spring with mine.  I started out with 5 ply birch and it broke every time.  When I went to 3 ply ACX, it stood up to the bend, though just barely.  You could try bending the piece with a ratchet strap.  I found that when I did that, the wood took a greater bend than was needed.  I ran into trouble when I started putting screws through the bottom into the stringer.  If you have the time, bend the piece with the ratchet strap and leave it for a few days while you do other things.  This will help it accept the bend with a better attitude. 

I kind or liked that the plans tell you what to do, but not how to do it.  Once it was in place, and the walls and rafters were installed it amazed me how well the roof laid down, like it was designed by someone to do that.  I was dubious when I was doing it.

Sure is fun though.

Al

[Ray Frechette Jr]

Make sure that the grain is running across the piece. 

Al

If Johnny is using 5 ply Luann with paper thin venneers than he might have better luck having the grain run perpendicular to the piece if able to sucessfully bend it at all.

The inner and outer veneer if paper thin will have minimal strength and as such you will be going across grain where the meat of the panel is.

By orienting the grain perpendicular to the piece then the plies just under and very near the surface will be going in the fdirection of the piece.

I really would not hold out too much confidence in the Luann myself though.

[Johnny Socko]

Thanks all,

I used a strap to slowly bend it. I forgot the outside of the ply is a very thin layer. So I scored the outside and put the grain the wrong way. It is on. I only had time to get that one on, and put another layer on the cabin deck. I felt the "floor" was too springy. I, (I mean my wife) sanded the deck awhile back. So I coated both the bottom and the new ply with epoxy. Screwed it too the keel and I got about a dozen cans of paint holding the rest down.